Sap-spile



G. MATTIOE.

(No Mode 1.

SAP SPILE.

Patented Aug. 4, 1885.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

CHRISTOPHER MATTIOE, OF DELHI, YORK.

SAP-SPILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,704, dated August 4, 1885.

Application filed August 22, 1884. (No model.) 7

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER MATTIOE, of Delhi, inthe county of Delaware and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sap-spiles, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View, showing in perspective my improved sap-spile attached to a portion of a bucket. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sap spile attaching-plate. Figs. 3 and 4 are details. Fig. 5 indicates the spile in a tree, and Fig. 6 shows in perspective the construction of the spile.

The old system of suspending sap-buckets to the spile by means of a hook permits the bucket to be blown around by the wind, and thus allows the sap to spill therefrom, or occasionally to entirely remove the bucket from its fastening, and at the same time, not being covered up, dirt, leaves, snow, and rain have a tendency to lodge therein. I design to overcome these difficulties by providing a rectangular piece, having at each end a pair of wires provided with hooks at the top and bottom. Through the center of the rectangular piece the spile extends into the tree. A metallic cover connected with the upper hooks extends outwardly and rests upon the end of the spile, To the lower hooks of the device the handle of the bucket is secured, which thus effectually prevents the bucket from blowing away by the wind or being filled with rain, water, or snow, all of which will now be fully set forth in detail.

In the accompanying drawings, A is a metallic plate, preferably rectangular in form. This may be made of any convenient size, and is provided at its upper edge with a centrallylocated segmental depression, 13, the central part of said plate being provided with a heartshaped aperture, 0, through which the spile D extends into the body of the tree. This plate rests with one face against the tree, being held in position by the spile D. One end of the spile D is provided with three or more wings, E, which are designed to press against the sides of the auger-hole. Grooves D are provided between these wings E for the purpose of permitting the descending sap to pass through, and at the same time to admit the ascending sap on its way to the openings F in the bottom of the spile. Lugs G are provided on the lower side of the spile outwardly from the plate A, to prevent the said plate from moving outwardly from the tree when the spile is driven therein, and the plate-is provided at its upper and outer corners with vertical slotsE. Extending downwardly from each of these slots I provide on the face of the plate A vertical grooves F, provided at each side of their lower ends with lugs, as shown in Fig. 3. Vithin these vertical grooves F,'I place a wire, H, of suitable size, its lower end turning upwardly, forming a hook, I. The upper end of the wire extends outwardly through the slot E, and is then turned downwardly at J, and thence curved upwardly on itself, and on its extreme upper end curves in the opposite direction to the hook I, forming a hook, K. The lower hooks, I, are designed to receive the handles 1 of the sap-bucket, while the upper hooks, K, are designed to have a circular metallic cover, L, provided with openings M, secured thereto. The lower central face of the metallic cover is designed to rest either upon the outer end of the spile D i or upon the edge of the bucket. This cover is designed to be somewhat larger in diameter than the sap-bucket beneath, andI design to have the edge somewhat drooping, so as to shed the rain and water therefrom. At the lower end of the metallic plate A a vertical elongation, A, is provided, having an opening centrally on its lower face. This is designed to be used in connection with spiles of particular construction. (Not shown in the drawings.) The wire pieces Hbeing connected with the plate A, the spile D is then inserted through the opening 0, and thence into the tree. The handle I of the bucket is connected with the hooks I, after which the cover L is placed over the hooks M, resting outwardly upon the face or the spile. The device is then ready for operation.

WVhat I claim is 1. The metallic plate A, having a central rco grooves, in combination with the wire hookjug-pieces, formed as described, thespilehav- 111g lugs on its lower side, and the metallic cover L, attached to the upper hooks, substantially as described.

The combination of the centrally-perforated grooved and slotted plate A, the hooking-pieces formed and applied to said plate, as described, the spile, and the cover attached to the upper hooks of said hooking-pieces, as specified.

In testimony that I elai 1n the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of August, 188i, in the presence of witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER MATTIGE.

.Vitnesses:

JOHN T. Sii'iiw, J. A. KJDMIP. 

